342 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



grain, the smell will to a considerable extent be removed by 

 kiln-drying it ; but in this process great care must be taken 

 not to overheat it, which renders it unpalatable to the horse, 

 and more heating in its nature, producing an increased 

 discharge of urine as well as mange of the skin, and is 

 apt to induce inflammation of the eyelids and of the ball of 

 the eye. 



Horses that have been fed all winter on dry food will 

 receive much benefit by being turned out in the spring, 

 when the grass has become luxuriant ; or when this is incon- 

 venient, cut grass may be given to him in the stable. The 

 use of green tares will also be found very beneficial. Green 

 food is certain to purge the animal, and that in a moderate 

 degree, which carries off all the evil effects of constant 

 feeding on hard meat. 



Wheat is too expensive to be used as food for horses in 

 Great Britain, and it is only when damaged that llirmers 

 think of applying it for this purpose. Although wheat 

 contains a large portion of nutrition, it is not by any means 

 desirable as food for a horse, as it has a tendency to form 

 obstructions in the bowels by becoming caked ; and besides, 

 it is difl&cult of digestion. This has been found to be 

 especially the case when they are watered soon after feed- 

 ing ; for the water, flowing quickly through the stomach and 

 small intestines in its passage to the caecum, or blind-gut, 

 carries off with it all the gelatinous substance of the grain, and 

 leaves the more indissoluble mass behind, and the masses 

 thereby formed have often caused the death of the horse. A 

 small portion of hay should be given along with wheat. 



Beans are an excellent and nutritious food, but should 

 never be given whole when dried, as their skin being so 

 very hard, the horse swallows many of them whole, or drops 

 others. 



